Oppose tax hikes in Senate

MINNEAPOLIS (April 25, 2013) — Americans for Prosperity-Minnesota, the state’s premier free market grassroots organization committed to smaller government and economic freedom, today congratulated the four members of the Senate Taxes Committee who voted against the Senate DFL tax proposal in Wednesday’s 9-4 committee vote.

Senators Julianne Ortman (R-Chanhassen), Roger Chamberlain (R-Lino Lakes), Carla Nelson (R-Rochester) and Dave Thompson (R-Lakeville) were the four dissenting votes who stood up for all Minnesotans by opposing $1.8 billion in new taxes in the form of an increased 3rd tier rate, new taxes on clothing, non-prescription drugs, car repair and personal services such as haircuts, and an increase of the cigarette and tobacco tax.

All Democratic members of the Senate Taxes Committee, plus lone Republican Sen. Dave Senjem (R-Rochester), voted to advance the bill out of the committee. These members voted in favor of nearly $2 billion in tax hikes on lower, middle and upper-income Minnesotans in a bill that even has some Democrats uneasy due to its impact on Minnesota families and small businesses.

“The Senate plan to raise taxes by nearly $2 billion through higher income, business property and sales taxes on goods and services we all use is bad for job creators, bad for families, and bad for Minnesota,” said AFP-MN State Director John Cooney. “AFP-Minnesota congratulates and thanks the four members of the Senate Taxes Committee who opposed this bill, which makes Minnesota less competitive and increases the heavy burden on Minnesota’s hardworking taxpayers. This unprecedented assault on lower and middle income Minnesotans is one we cannot afford. AFP-Minnesota will continue to mobilize our activists, supporters and concerned citizens throughout the state to call on legislators to oppose this bill and focus instead on growing the economy and putting people back to work by lowering taxes, increasing Minnesota’s competitiveness and expanding economic freedom.”

After passing the Senate Taxes Committee on Wednesday, April 24, the bill is expected to be voted upon by the full Senate within the next week.

The Senate plan has received bipartisan criticism and opposition in recent days:

“House Majority Leader Erin Murphy suggested that the Senate’s broader increase in income taxes goes too far…‘I think there probably isn’t a lot of support inside the caucus for what we’re hearing out of the Senate.’” (Politics in Minnesota, Senate Tax Bill Sets Up Showdown, April 24, 2013)

“‘This is going to be a hard one for me to support,’ said first-term DFL Sen. Melisa Franzen. Franzen, who represents the swing district of Edina, Minnetonka and Bloomington, worries the bill could harm the state’s business climate.

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen-leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and intrusiveness of government is the best way to promote individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org.